ACCOUNTABILITY AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS

   Public officials must be held to account

While Nigerians, as a minimum, deserve a life free from hunger in a country so blessed with arable land and natural resources, both poverty and hunger continue to trail our national landscape. And with many of the rural communities lacking access to critical infrastructure for storage and transportation of raw materials from their places of production to markets, all the rhetoric about diversification is losing meaning.

Whatever government officials may be saying, incentives for youth participation are scanty just as credit regime to drive the agriculture sector does not exist. Yet there is no better time than now to make the much-touted transition from oil to agriculture as the growth catalyst for the Nigerian economy. Unfortunately, at a period when we should look inwards, most of the governors have continued the wasteful habit of undertaking frivolous foreign trips under the guise of going to seek foreign investment.

I Assist Nigerians Get Canadian Visa, Scholarships

   Taiwo Roluga is a seasoned immigration consultant with years of experiencein immigration into Canada. In this interview with Tosin Clegg, he talks about immigration and how Nigerians are excelling in the American country

I always like to help people
As an immigrant in Canada, a lot of people ask me, how they can I relocate or work in Canada. I have been through the system and I understand the process and I am a licensed immigration consultant by the Government of Canada to help anyone who wants to study, visit and reside permanently in Canada. So, that’s what prompted my interest because a lot of people are asking questions so I felt this is what I can do to help people get original information.

I have been doing this for four years
I set up an office in Nigeria last year. I was doing it in Canada but middle of last year I opted to start it in Nigeria fully. The Nigerian and Canadian economy are different. Nigeria is a developing country and regardless of where you live you are still a Nigerian. So I see myself as a Nigerian and even though I’m permanently based in Canada with my family, I still see myself as a Nigerian as I was born and raised here. I was going out with my daughter couple of years ago and we met a white lady and she saw that my daughter was friendly and she said she liked us and asked where we are from and my daughter said, ‘Well I’m Canadian and my dad is Nigerian.’ I can’t hide the fact that I’m a Nigerian.

Prepare for the Worst in Paid Employment

There is a popular school of thought that advocates there is nothing like job security anymore. The business environment is filled with case studies of organisations that were wiped off through irredeemable share price crashes, scandals or loss of investments in one way or the other. Our world today has also been described as VUCA – Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous – signaling the need for business and government leaders, as well as employees to always act with a sense of urgency. Also, a bigger lesson from the fast-changing trends in our world today is the fact that nobody can afford to be complacent, because a change in the climatic or business weather can sink even the most profitable venture.

Where does this uncertainty leave employees, if business leaders are constantly taking risks and trying to stay afloat in spite of the dynamic environment and unpredictable markets? It should teach them how to stay prepared for sudden changes and adopt a mindset that is open to a flexible future. Here are some ways to prepare for the worst scenario whilst in paid employment:

Develop your Personal Brand
Building a personal brand is easier than you can ever imagine. One way to start is by blogging. The irony is that, the only person who knows how good you are at your job are your bosses and clients. You need to change your job search system by sidestepping the way things worked conventionally.

The focus of any blog is to drive conversation, because it is a medium to showcase your portfolio and get people to interact with your work. It is also a forum to connect with individuals and organizations at the frontline of the subjects that are most imperative to you. There are countless testimonials of people who have secured fantastic jobs by writing a blog post. It costs next to nothing to create a blog today. You can also become a guest blogger on popular media platforms that will promote your work and connect you with brands within your niche of interest.

Network! Network! Network!
Networking does not mean going to conferences only or events to meet people. Why not try out things you would not typically do in the office setting? Ask folks out to lunch, spend time asking questions and just listen to their responses. You will be amazed at what you can glean from a 20 minute lunch break. Besides networking with people within your professional demographic, it is important to also connect with senior executives and engage them with burning questions you have regarding your industry. This can propel them to recommend you for a future job opportunity.

Engage with Your Colleagues
Don’t be a lone wolf. Many people never realize they don’t have real friends in the office until they are fired from their jobs. Ensure you have a network of friends at your workplace, so that in case you lose your job, they will serve as a support system to you. Help each other, make positive recommendations and promote their side hustles. You are at more advantage with a squad than on your own.

Explore Other Industries
Do not forget to explore other industries while networking.  The skills set you have may be held in high esteem in a different industry. It is important to find at least two other industries where your skill set can be transferred to, so that you can always move when an industry suffers the effect of a government policy or resource decline.  Always try to learn from people who do things you would have never thought about. You never can say who they may be on the lookout for in the future.

Start that side hustle today
Irrespective of how comfortable your job may be, never rest on the oars of your job hunt.  No matter how lucrative the job is, do not be fooled by the company’s ‘Kool-Aid’. You don’t want to be caught in the situation many individuals find themselves when they get fired. Therefore protect yourself so that if things go south, you will have a few irons in the fire.

On the Senate, Ports and Revenue Leakages

  One is constrained to join issues with “Mr. Yahaya Sadique”, supposedly a Kaduna-based writer over an article authored by him and published recently in THISDAY. The article entitled “The Senate, Ports and revenue leakages” is to say, the least a disservice to the cause of truth. Although it hinges its premise on the ports and attempts by the senate to investigate alleged revenue leakages at the ports, it dwells extensively on a statement recently issued by respected elder statesman and former Military Governor of Kaduna State, Col. Umar Abubakar Dangiwa Umar(rtd). And that is really pathetic.

One finds it distasteful that “Mr. Sadique” would disparage a man who has remained one of the most committed patriots and has never shied away from speaking his mind on national issue no matter how contentious they are. To insinuate that the statesman is under the influence of the NPA, is to say the least, a disgraceful position not expected of anyone conversant with and national history and national interest at heart.

But it does not seem that the writer under discussion is in tune with the current state of affairs going by the content of his article especially as it concerns the NPA. Anyone familiar with the current state of affairs at the NPA would readily testify to the increasing level of transparency at the agency.

The church and society

   Why is it that the Church in Nigeria does not appear to be engaged in any significant manner with some of the most important challenges confronting our nation? Most Nigerians will agree that Nigeria has been held down by deep-seated corruption, in government and the private sector; the will of the majority is being subverted by an unrepresentative democracy; society is held captive by an unenlightened and rapacious elite; and the vast majority of people are victims of social injustice particularly poverty, oppression, insecurity and abusive use of power.
Every other national problem in my view can be traced to these fundamental causes. Corruption is at the root of our infrastructure deficiency, particularly power and transportation-appropriations get into private accounts rather than deliver power stations, roads, bridges, hospitals, schools, and rural infrastructure. Corruption is at the root of the violent struggle for power and election rigging that destroys our democracy-if public office were about service and sacrifice, we would struggle to find enough people interested in them to fill all the offices we have created in our constitution. Corruption means that police men and military men are so poor and angry that they take out their frustrations on innocent citizens and civilians.

I’m disappointed Klitschko retired –Joshua

  World heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua says Wladimir Klitschko’s decision to retire and decline a rematch was a “massive” disappointment, BBC Sport reports.

Briton Joshua, 27, knocked out Klitschko at Wembley Stadium in April and had hoped they would fight again in Las Vegas on November 11.

However, the Ukrainian, 41, announced his retirement earlier this month.

“In my heart of hearts I kind of knew he probably wouldn’t fight again,” said Joshua.

Klitschko’s nine-year reign as lineal world heavyweight champion was ended by Britain’s Tyson Fury in 2015 before he failed to regain the IBF and WBA titles in the 11th round defeat by Joshua.

I saw President Muhammadu Buhari Estate

  Last week, I saw the President Muhammadu Buhari Estate located on the outskirt of the main Abeokuta town in Ogun State and I couldn’t but ask myself in Egba “Se kosi? I translate: Is everything okay? The estate is not a new project so I apologise for my tardiness in just reacting to it publicly and whilst we are at it, let me also apologise for guiltily failing to visit my darling Abeokuta for such a long time. As I have discovered and as we shall soon see, there are however bigger misdemeanours than failing to visit Abeokuta regularly.

The sight of these 50 hectares of land in Kobape Abeokuta, with its exterior painted in the colours of the Nigerian flag and the construction of a residential estate sponsored by the Ogun State Government or better still the Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has made me ask myself a question I have often asked: What is wrong with us as a people? The spectacle of this yet-to-be-completed President Muhammadu Buhari Estate has reaffirmed in me the conviction that for us to be truly civil free citizens, we as a people, need to sit down to rationally analyse the powers of politicians and indeed all public office holders, find ways to make those that wield such powers accurately accountable and indeed find ways to curtail all public and political powers.

Buhari’s reunion with his media team by Reuben Abati

  I was really excited on Saturday when I received news of the eventual visit of President Muhammadu Buhari’s media team to him in London. I had always felt that the exclusion of the media team from the London medical vacation and the various visits practically undermined the Presidential media office, and created the space for the mismanagement of the communication process around and about the President’s illness.



I could never have imagined my own boss in our time, travelling without me or shutting me out of any important event. He took my team everywhere. Every President has what is called a Main Body. This comprises his first line of assistants, namely his Chief Security Officer, Aide-de-Camp, Chief Detail, Chief Physician, State Chief of Protocol, Personal Assistant (Luggage), Personal Assistant (Private matters), and of course, the Special Adviser (Media and Publicity)/Official Spokesperson.

Nigerian Law School must reinstate and compensate me –Bello, expelled student

  Kayode Bello, a student of the Nigerian Law School, Abuja Campus, was expelled few days ago for acts described as misconduct. Sequel to the expulsion, Bello and the school management had been trading words over what led to his expulsion. In this interview, Bello tells TUNDE AJAJA his next line of action on the issue

On the issue you have had with the Council of Legal Education and the Nigerian Law School in the past few days, what has been the reaction of your parents to your expulsion?

I don’t want to talk about my parents. I’m an adult and I can handle such issues on my own.

You said in your last response that the Council of Legal Education had been biased against you. Not everybody would believe you that such an institution could be against an individual. How do you justify that?

The Nigerian Law School is an arm of the Council of Legal Education, under the directorship of Mr. Lanre Onadeko (SAN) has been so biased, even before gaining admission into the Law School. They never had the intention of admitting me. According to what they said in the papers, they said it was because of my disruptive behaviour before, during and after the seat reservation issue. That means they have been reacting prejudicially on issues that occurred in my university days which they were not even privy to. This is because the then Dean of the Faculty of Law, Prof. Oluyemisi Bamgboshe, wrote a negative report against me in the reference section because of what happened between both of us and she said I must be punished in the university. But, to God be the glory, I was not expelled, as she was expecting. I wouldn’t have even known she did that if not that I went to the Public Complaints Commission. So, before gaining admission into the Nigerian Law School, they already had issues against me and that was why when I had an encounter with one of them, the person said that was why I had issue in my university and that yet I didn’t show any regret and I said I didn’t regret because I didn’t do anything wrong.

Law School justifies expulsion of student

   The Nigerian Law School, on Wednesday justified its decision to expel its student in the Bwari, Abuja campus, Kayode Bello, after protesting against seat reservation in a lecture room.

A statement by the institution’s Head of Information and Protocol, Mr. Chinedu Ukekwe, said Bello was expelled for his “constant” disruptive conduct before, during and after the seat reservation crisis.

According to the statement, Bello had an antecedent of “negative behaviour” having been allegedly expelled by the University of Ibadan during the 2008/2009 academic session.

It stated that on the basis of that, his application to the Law School in 2012 was referred to the Council of Legal Education which resolved that the student should not be offered admission until 2017.

The Future is Video Marketing

  Video marketing is not just an option, it’s a critical part of any marketing campaign. It is the use of video content to promote your products, services and brand. Video marketing can increase your SEO ranking, click rates and conversions. It is also easily accessible with a smartphone as customers can view your videos anywhere at any time. Video marketing is more cost effective than traditional media, and if you are still not convinced, then here are some reasons why this should be adopted as your #1 marketing strategy:

Your conversion rate can increase by 80% when a video is included on the landing page of your website, because 2X as many people would love to watch a video about your products than read it.

Most mobile video viewers share videos with their friends, family and people within their network. There are also over 1 billion YouTube users and this is about one-third of the total internet users.

When creating video content for marketing, it is important to understand that it is not a sales pitch, but a means to tell a story. Do not irritate your customers by overtly promoting your products or services; instead focus on the value you are providing for them. Video marketing is about understanding your customers’ needs, wants and desires and channeling it through a visual narrative.

#SME100Nigeria 25 Under 25 Entrepreneurs: It’s time to recognize our Young Tycoons at Africa’s Most Prestigious Young People’s Awards

    We invite you to nominate an entrepreneur to win in the SME 100 Nigeria 25 under 25 Entrepreneurs Awards. This is an award recognizing and celebrating micro and small businesses including start-ups that are transforming industries that impact millions of lives every day in Nigeria; owned and managed by youths aged 25 and under. Nominations can be done here: http://sme100nigeria.com/sme/Nominate

Industries to be recognized include:

Social Entrepreneurship
Fashion & Creative arts
Agriculture
Technology & Cyber Security
Health
Education
Energy and Sustainability
Media
Sports
Eligibility Criteria:

The founder(s) must not be older than the age of 27 as at the time. In the event that the nominee is 27 years old,  the company must have been in existence for at least 3 years.
The founder must be a Nigerian.
The company must be contributing to social economic development of Nigeria.
The line of business must be ethical and in accordance to the Nigerian laws.
The business must be duly registered under the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria.
Previous recipients of these awards include Yasmin Belo-Osagie, Sophia Ikeonu, Linda Iheme, Eseoghene Odiete, Bidemi Zakariyau, Orode Uduaghan. Just to mention a few.

"Your inferiority complex is showing" - OAP Gbemi

  Gbemi Olateru-Olagbegi has come out to slam mainland residents mocking people living on the Island in Lagos that had to endure the serious flooding caused by heavy rainfall today. The Beat FM OAP advised those making jest to develop the mainland, which also had flooded areas, before making fun of people living on the Island for convenience.

Dating a Nigerian Girl Without Breaking the Bank

  I hate flying. It sucks…especially when it is for a long period of time or there is turbulence and you have to pretend you are not screaming “the blood of Jesus” in your head like a mad person. Some people can actually pull through the worst ‘airquake’ without cracking a sweat!

I met one of such people two days ago on my flight back to Lagos. I remember smiling nicely before sitting down next to him. I didn’t try to chat him up, as I know first hand that small talk is not for everyone. He seemed engrossed in his iPad, so I brought out a book to read. Everything was going smoothly until the turbulence started. In my mind, I was handling the turbulence situation with class and finesse, but the young man (who later introduced himself as Rodney) stretched out his hands and said: “holding hands help with the anxiety you know.” His demeanor was so calm, I felt deeply embarrassed. Somehow I had managed to disgrace my ancestors without even uttering a word. I just smiled and said: “Thanks, I’ll be fine”. He chuckled and replied: “It’s alright, I won’t bite, it’s not a ruse to get your number either. I don’t date Nigerian girls”

Number 1, how do you know I’m Nigerian? Two: who are you not to crave Nigerian girls (the most exquisite brand of girls on planet earth)? Three, who even wants a ‘shekeleke’ like you? Four: how dare you? I was torn between being an uptight bitch and telling him off; and being the curious cat who finds out why he would make such a comment. You can guess which I opted for.

Rodney, like most men around the world, had the impression that Nigerian girls were gold diggers so, dating them would lead to the financial suicide of any man. The funny thing was that he had not had any personal experience with Nigerian girls. His conclusions were based on hearsays and recounts from friends who have dated Nigerian girls. Of course, as a Nigerian girl, I gave him a few hard truths straight away.